Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Fermi Education and Public Outreach Support FY13-16
Prepared by Lynn Cominsky, Fermi E/PO lead
The Sonoma State University (SSU) Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) group leads the Fermi
Education and Public Outreach program. The purpose of the Fermi E/PO program is to increase student
and public understanding of the science of the high-energy Universe, through a multi-faceted education
and outreach program that supports the mission’s objectives. The E/PO program has additional more
general goals, including increasing the diversity of students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) pipeline, and increasing public awareness and understanding of Fermi science and
technology. Fermi’s E/PO program contributes to each major outcome category:
• Higher Education - Fermi E/PO promotes STEM careers through the use of NASA data including
research experiences for students and teachers (Global Telescope Network), and education
through STEM curriculum development projects (Cosmology curriculum) and enrichment
activities (Large Area Telescope simulator).
• Elementary and Secondary education – Fermi E/PO links the science objectives of the Fermi
mission to well-tested, customer-focused and NASA-approved standards-aligned classroom
materials (Black Hole Resources, Active Galaxy Education Unit and Pop-up book, TOPS guides,
Supernova Education Unit). These materials are distributed through (Educator Ambassador and
on-line) teacher training workshops and through programs involving under-represented students
(after-school clubs and Astro 4 Girls).
• Informal education and public outreach – Fermi E/PO engages the public in sharing the
experience of exploration and discovery through high-leverage multi-media experiences (Black
Holes planetarium and PBS NOVA shows), through popular websites (Gamma-ray Burst
Skymap, Epo’s Chronicles), interactive web-based activities (Space Mysteries) and activities
conducted by a nation-wide network of amateur astronomers (Supernova Toolkit).
Review of Accomplishments:
Table 1 provides a summary of the program elements that have been completed by the Fermi E/PO
program including the outcome category (as defined in the NASA Education Outcome and Objective
Hierarchy 2009), the partners and the year in which the product passed program review or funding was
completed. Extensive details for each are given in the approved Fermi E/PO Implementation Plan. An
extremely brief description of the accomplishments of the Fermi E/PO program follows:
Curriculum Materials: The Fermi E/PO program promotes inquiry into topics that are included in the
National Science Education Content Standards A, B, & D for grades 7-14, including forces and motion,
the structure and evolution of the Universe, and the relationship between energy and matter. Many Fermi
E/PO products also align to National Mathematics standards. All curricular materials have been approved
by NASA Product Review, and are available free of charge through the Fermi E/PO website and the
Space Science Education Resource Directory. The products include:
a) Large Area Telescope (LAT) Simulator (grades 11-14): This interactive computer-based educational
activity shows the results when gamma-ray photons of different energies and incident angles hit the LAT,
Fermi’s main scientific instrument. This web activity is part of SLAC’s Virtual Visitor Center site.
b) TOPS guides: Far Out Math, Scale the Universe, and Pi in the Sky use Fermi (then called GLAST)
science to illustrate mathematical concepts for grades 5-12. The guides were developed through a subaward to Ron Marson, TOPS Learning Systems, with technical and scientific oversight by Fermi E/PO.
To date, we have distributed over 3000 copies of Far Out Math, almost 4000 copies of Scale the
Universe, and over 2000 copies of Pi in the Sky through workshops.
c) Active Galaxy Education Unit (grades 9-14): Developed by the Fermi E/PO program, this unit uses
Active Galaxies to teach standards-based science and math concepts including geometrical perspective,
the small angle approximation and light travel time. More than 2600 distributed through workshops.
Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
d) Active Galaxy Pop-up Book and Educator Guide (grades 3-8): Developed by the Fermi E/PO
program, this book features a model of an active galaxy with jets which pops up out of the center, and
accompanying enrichment material. Almost 5000 distributed through workshops and classroom visits.
e) Supernova Education Unit (grades 7-14): Developed jointly with the XMM-Newton E/PO program, this
unit uses supernovae to teach standards-based science concepts including the electromagnetic spectrum,
motion, magnetic fields, and science literacy. Nearly 1000 guides and/or CDs distributed to educators.
After-School Programs with Under-represented Students: From 2004-2011, Fermi, Swift, and XMMNewton E/PO programs sponsored four different after-school clubs (grades 1-3, 4-6, 6-8 and 9-12) at
three different Sonoma county public and predominantly Hispanic schools. The total number of students
served each week during 2011 through these clubs was about 100.
Black Hole Resources: In January 2006 the planetarium show “Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity,”
premiered at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Jointly funded by NSF and NASA’s GLAST (now
Fermi) E/PO program, this full-dome digital show continues to be popular. To date, it has been shown in
over 125 planetaria world-wide to over two million viewers in 16 different languages. Elements of the
planetarium show were used as part of a PBS NOVA episode, “Monster of the Milky Way.” Initially
viewed by over 10 million people (and rerun many times since its premiere in 2006) and accompanied by
additional educational resources, it continues to be available. A fact sheet explaining black holes was
created in both English and Spanish. The English version has been distributed to nearly 25,000 viewers,
while the Spanish version has been distributed to more than 3400. The brochures were also distributed to
attendees at the NASA/NSF Black Holes museum exhibit designed by the education group at Harvard.
Amateur Astronomers and the Night Sky Network (NSN): Together with the Suzaku, Swift and XMMNewton E/PO programs, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), Fermi E/PO funded the
development of the “Supernova! toolkit” for the NSN of (over 200) amateur astronomy clubs. To date, the
toolkit has reached over 138,000 attendees through 1,284 events. Of these events, 679 events reported
including almost 25,000 minorities and over 39,000 women/girls.
Websites: Fermi E/PO supported the development of two “Space Mysteries” – interactive games that
teach space science: “Solar Supernova?” and “Galactic Doom?” Both have been approved by NASA
Product Review. Also developed were tours of the one-year Fermi LAT skymap using Google Sky and
Microsoft’s World-wide Telescope, and the Fermi Pulsar Explorer.
Printed Materials: Many items have been designed and printed by Fermi E/PO including: the Fermi
lithograph (over 8000 distributed), fact sheet (nearly 10,000 distributed), paper model (over 8000
distributed) and race card game (more than 6800 distributed). All have been approved by NASA Product
Review. We have also recently produced and distributed more than 1500 copies of a two-year skymap
poster (approved by NASA Communications Review). We also produced a variety of items to support the
GLAST launch in 2008 (sticker, poster, public brochures).
International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009 Activities: From Earth to the Universe: Fermi E/PO codesigned and funded an exhibit of 14 images which traveled around the San Francisco Bay Area to 35
venues during 2009 - 10, and was viewed by over 100,000 participants. A larger exhibit was displayed at
the California Academy of Sciences and the San Jose Tech Museum, and viewed by over 50,000 visitors.
Visions of the Universe Library Exhibit: Fermi Educator Ambassadors participated in giving special
lectures at libraries selected to participate in NASA’s “Visions of the Universe” IYA exhibits. This
activity was coordinated by the Astrophysics Science Education and Public Outreach Forum (SEPOF).
IYA lithographs: Fermi E/PO designed and printed lithographs featuring the IYA “Go-Observe” objects
as explained by Epo’s Chronicles characters. Over 16,500 of these were distributed through the NSN.
Tesla Coil Show: From 2000-2012, Fermi E/PO provided funding to support the Tesla Coil show put on
by UC Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics scientists, which reached thousands of students annually.
Planned Activities and Implementation Plans for Fiscal Years 2013-2016
Table 2 provides a summary of the program elements that are ongoing and will be supported by the Fermi
E/PO program (assuming funding levels as requested). We also plan to continue to support various
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Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Astrophysics SEPOF-coordinated projects (including Resources for Higher Education and Scientist
Engagement, which are not described further due to space limitations). Specified for each is the outcome
category, as well as the planned budget ($K) for each fiscal year from FY12-16. The partners for each
program element are also indicated. Table 3 specifies the objectives, target audiences, implementation
and/or dissemination methods and expected outcomes. The following is a brief description, a summary of
audience needs and evaluation plans for the program elements listed in Tables 2 and 3:
Observing with a Robotic Telescope: The Global Telescope Network (GTN) provides students with the
opportunity to engage in authentic research experiences; similar efforts (cf. Roth and Roychoudhury
1993) have been shown to help students develop the type of scientific inquiry skills that are needed for
future STEM-based careers. Over 200 high school and college students have used the GTN since 2004.
The Fermi E/PO program will continue to support the GTN in the areas of pipeline maintenance, and
work with minority institutions and high schools at constant levels during FY13-16. The GTN now
consists of 38 partners from small college, high school and amateur observatories from around the world.
Fermi E/PO staff have developed a NASA-approved website, regularly assist students to observe active
galaxies and other targets using our robotic 14-inch telescope, and provides access to both northern and
southern hemisphere telescopes (through the PROMPT project). WestEd interviews of four female high
school GTN interns noted that “students said that their interest in astronomy, science, and the scientific
method had growth considerably over the summer and (all) expressed interest in careers in science.”
Online Cosmology Curriculum: In these challenging times, many universities are turning to online
curricula, which are thought to improve learning as well as efficiency (e.g., Moe and Chubb 2009). Along
with funding from NASA EPOESS, Fermi E/PO is supporting the development of an online curriculum
for college students: The Big Ideas in Cosmology. WestEd is providing formative pedagogical evaluation,
expert scientific reviewers are committed to the project, and our publisher, Kendall Hunt, is supporting
market testing. Fermi E/PO will continue to support this curriculum at decreasing levels as it is pilot
tested, revised and completed during FY12-16.
Educator Ambassador (EA) Program: EAs are master teachers who engage other educators in
professional development that is directly connected to teaching practices (as recommended by e.g.,
Loucks-Horsley et al. 2010). The need for high-quality teacher professional development was recently
highlighted by NASA’s Education Design Team report (2011). The EA program currently has 16
educators who annually train thousands of other educators at local, state, regional, and national teachers’
meetings, giving pre-approved workshops across the country. Every other year, they attend a week-long
workshop at SSU: the next training will be held in July 2012. To date, the Fermi-funded EAs, together
with SSU E/PO personnel, have directly trained over 31,000 students and teachers through over 370
training events. The EA program, as a whole, has directly trained over 57,000 teachers and students
across North America since 2001. The program is demonstrably successful, as evidenced by an
evaluation of data from more than 1500 responses (140 workshops) compiled by WestEd. WestEd has
also evaluated all five bi-annual EA trainings, and many workshops conducted by EAs, and by SSU
personnel. Fermi E/PO will support 10 EAs during FY13-16, and for the training in FYs 12, 14 and 16.
Online Teacher Training: In FY11, the pilot course “NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe” was
developed, hosted on SSU servers, and Prof. Cominsky served as the Instructor of Record for a diverse
group of 25 teachers. The two-week course was developed in response to needs identified at the 2010
Astrophysics SEPOF retreat and by NASA’s Education Design Team (2011). The course met the needs
(Zhang et al. 2010) of the (predominantly middle-school) teachers by helping them gain content and
pedagogical knowledge, as well as experiences with inquiry-based activities and use of the Internet to find
NASA resources. The program was evaluated via a pre- and post-test, by collecting feedback from the
participants, and also by WestEd. Fermi E/PO will continue to support this course during FY13-16.
Astro 4 Girls: In 2011, the Astrophysics SEPOF began to plan a collaborative effort to reach middleschool girls through workshops to be held at libraries in March 2012. The pilot is currently under
development, with two of the nine venues being served by Fermi-supported EAs Teena Della and Pam
Whiffen. The need for this type of program is well documented, as girls continue to be under-represented
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Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
in STEM fields, and in NASA technical careers (AAUW 2011) and libraries have a need for authoritative
and up-to-date technical information (Smith et al. 2011). Fermi E/PO plans to continue to support the
travel by these EAs to additional libraries expected to participate in future years.
Printed Materials: SSU prints curriculum support and outreach materials on demand as supplies are used
by the EAs and others at educator and outreach events. All printed materials have been approved by
NASA Product Review. Curricular Support: Fermi E/PO funds will be used to reprint existing materials
described above as Completed Program Elements (Active Galaxies Education unit and Pop-up book,
TOPS guides, Supernova education unit). Outreach: Fermi outreach materials in this category include the
Fermi paper model, two-year skymap poster, race card game, lithograph, fact sheet and the Black Hole
Fact Sheet.
New Media: During FY11, Fermi and Swift E/PO began an iPhone app version of the GRB Skymap
website. However, iPhone apps for both missions were released by mission partners so this effort has
been suspended. During FY12 we are evaluating audience needs for Smart Phone apps and also for the
citizen science project “Einstein@Home” to use Fermi data to search for gamma-ray pulsars. The rapidly
changing world of new media will continue to be evaluated for future projects slated for FY15-16.
Websites: This program element includes SSU support for a variety of different websites including:
Space Mysteries, the Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) Skymap site and Epo’s Chronicles, a weekly webcomic.
Space Mysteries provide informal game-based learning that is well-suited to developing the scientific
habits of mind vital to scientific literacy (Steinkuehler and Chmiel 2006). The GRB Skymap site is aimed
at the scientifically attentive public, including many amateur astronomers who “chase” GRBs. Epo’s
Chronicles is an example of a new genre of multi-modal story-telling, that can “actively engage learners
and expand upon their current knowledge” (Costello and Bliton 2009). All three sites have been approved
by NASA Product Review, following formative evaluation by WestEd.
Space Mysteries: SSU staff will continue to fix broken links, ensure 508-compliance (accessibility), and
perform upgrades in response to any changes needed as browsers and Flash software implementations
evolve. During 2011, the site had over 4000 unique visitors.
Epo's Chronicles: This weekly web comic is written and drawn by SSU staff then translated into French,
Spanish and Italian. Monthly readership has doubled in the past year to over 60,000 unique visitors
annually. During FY13-16, Fermi E/PO will continue to produce this comic with support from the Swift,
XMM-Newton and NuSTAR missions.
GRB website: The GRB skymap site includes descriptions of every GRB seen by Fermi, Swift and other
satellites since 2004. During 2011, the site had over 37,000 unique visitors. During FY13-16, Fermi E/PO
will continue to maintain this site with support from the Swift mission.
E/PO section of mission website: The Fermi E/PO web site is maintained by SSU, but is completely
integrated with the Goddard mission site providing public access to all the Fermi E/PO materials for the
public, students and teachers. Other Fermi public outreach sites supported by SSU include MySpace and
Facebook which are updated by SSU staff with the latest mission science news.
Evaluation: Since 2001, Fermi E/PO has supported a comprehensive program of external evaluation
overseen by Dr. Edward Britton of the Math and Science program at WestEd. WestEd also is the external
evaluator for SSU on the Swift, NuSTAR and XMM-Newton E/PO programs, as well as on the recently
EPOESS-funded Online Cosmology Curriculum. During FY13-16, Fermi E/PO will continue to fund
external evaluation at a level of approximately 5% of the total budget.
Point of Contact and Required Reporting: Prof. Lynn Cominsky is the official point of contact for
the Astrophysics SEPOF, coordinating all the activities described in this proposal, and attending all
telecons and retreats. Dr. Kevin McLin provides backup to Prof. Cominsky, and also regularly attends all
SEPOF telecons and retreats. Prof. Cominsky is responsible for providing monthly reports through the
SEPOF, as well as the highlights of Fermi E/PO activities. She is also responsible for generating the
information required by the annual budget-information data call and ensuring that the event data are input
into the Office of Education Performance Metric (OEPM) system.
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Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Table 1: Completed Program Elements for Fermi Education and Public Outreach Program (2000 - 2011)
Program Element
Data Call Entries
Outcome Year completed or
Partners
category
approved by Product
Review
Curriculum Materials
Large Area Telescope Simulator
1D
2006
SLAC
TOPS Guide “Far Out Math ”
2B
2003
TOPS Learning Systems
TOPS Guide “Scale the Universe” 2B
2005
TOPS Learning Systems
TOPS Guide “Pi in the Sky”
2B
2005
TOPS Learning Systems
Active Galaxies Education Unit
2B
2004, updated and
reprinted in 2010
Active Galaxies Pop-up and Guide 2B
2006
Supernova Education Unit
2B
2008
XMM-Newton
After-school Programs After-school Programs at K-12 2C
2011
Swift, XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, Boys
with UnderSchools
& Girls Club of Central Sonoma
represented Students
County, MESA
Black Hole Resources
Black Holes PBS and Planetarium 3A, 3B
2006
Swift, NSF, Tom Lucas Productions,
Show
Denver Museum of Nature &
Science, PBS NOVA
Black Hole Fact Sheet
3A
2006 (English)
EXIST (original funder) in English
and Spanish, revised and reprinted
in English only in 2009 for Fermi
Amateur Astronomers Supernova! Toolkit
3A
2008
Swift, XMM-Newton, Suzaku, ASP,
and the Night Sky
NSN
Network
IYA Lithographs for the NSN
3A
2009
Night Sky Network
Websites
Space Mysteries “Solar
Supernova?”
Space Mysteries “Galactic
Doom?”
3A
2006
NASA LEARNERS (original funder)
3A
2009
NASA LEARNERS (original funder)
Fermi Skymap products
Outreach
2009
Google Sky, Microsoft World Wide
Telescope
Fermi Pulsar Explorer
Outreach
2011
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Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Printed Materials
Fermi Lithograph
Fermi Fact Sheet
Fermi Paper Model
3A
3A
3A
Fermi Race card game
3A
Outreach
Outreach
2011
IYA 2009 activities
GLAST Launch support
materials
Fermi Two-year Skymap
poster
From Earth to the Universe
2008
2008
2007, revised and
reprinted in 2009
2009, revised and
reprinted in 2009
2003-2008
Outreach
2010
Tesla Coil Show
Visions of the Universe
Go-Observe Object Lithos
UCSC Education Program
Outreach
Outreach
Outreach
2010
2010
2012
Program Element
Observing with Robotic
Telescope
Online Cosmology
Curriculum
Educator Ambassadors
Swift, XMM-Newton, Kepler,
SOFIA, ASP, SETI institute, UCB
Center for Science Education,
NASA Lunar Science Institute
SEPOF coordinated program
NSN
UC Santa Cruz Institute for
Particle Physics
Table 2: Continuing Program Elements for Fermi Education and Public Outreach Program (2012 - 2016)
Data Call Entries
Outcome
Fermi Budget
Partners
category
($K) for FY
12 13 14 15 16
Developing Pipeline for GTN Data 1C
15 10 10 10 10 Swift (not continuing), AAVSO,
Reduction
PROMPT
Global Telescope Use in Minority 1C
20 20 20 20 20 GTN, PROMPT
Institutions
GTN use in High Schools
2C
25 25 25 25 25 GTN, PROMPT
Using the Big Ideas in Cosmology
1D
220 260 150 150 100 NASA EPOESS, Chicago State
University, UNLV
NASA Astrophysics Educator
2A
50 60 60 60 60 Swift, XMM, NuSTAR
Ambassadors Teacher Training
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Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
NASA Astrophysics Educator
Ambassadors Training
Teacher Training at Science and
Education Conferences
Support for Girls in Libraries
Curricular Support Materials
Outreach & Informal Materials
Smart Phone App,
Einstein@Home and future
Space Mysteries
Epo’s Chronicles
GRB Skymap website
E/PO sections of mission website
UCSC Education Program
WestEd sub-award
Online Teacher Training
Astro 4 Girls
Printed Materials
New Media
Websites
Tesla Coil Show
Evaluation
Budget totals
2A
88
7
80
10
80
Swift, XMM, NuSTAR
2A
28
35
40
50
50
SEPOF coordinated program
2C
2B
Outreach
Outreach
10
10
10
15
15
10
10
25
20
10
10
30
10
10
50
40
10
10
20
SEPOF coordinated program
3A
Outreach
Outreach
Outreach
Outreach
5
100
35
5
10
40
686
5
100
35
5
5
100
35
5
5
100
35
5
5
100 Swift, XMM, NuSTAR
35 Swift
5
Swift (not continuing, app only),
LIGO (Einstein@Home)
40 30 30 30
662 600 600 600
Table 3: Fermi Education and Public Outreach Program Implementation Plans FY13 - FY16
Program
Element
Milestones
Objectives
Target
Audience
Observing
Ongoing
with Robotic
Telescope
Provide background
material and instruction in
obtaining science data
Online
Cosmology
Curriculum
Use inquiry, reflection,
interpretation of research,
modeling and guided
practice to train college
students
Underrepresented
high school and
college
students
College
students
Pilot test Module 1 in
Spring 2012; module 2
in Fall 2012; module 3
in Spring 2013. Revise
in FY 13-14; publish in
FY15; update in FY16.
7
Implementation
and/or
Dissemination
Methods
Software pipeline
for GTN, in-person
and online training
Expected Outcomes
Students become engaged
with authentic NASA research
and are inspired by NASA
science to continue in a STEM
major.
Online through
Students become engaged
curriculum
with curriculum based on
published by Kendall NASA research and are
Hunt
inspired by NASA science to
continue in a STEM major.
Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Educator
Ambassadors
Training during
Summers 2012, 2014
and 2016
Use inquiry, reflection,
interpretation of research,
modeling and guided
practice to train EAs. EAs
then subsequently train
educators to use NASA
resources in the classroom.
Educator
Ambassadors
Use inquiry, reflection,
interpretation of research,
modeling and guided
practice to train educators
to use NASA resources in
the classroom.
Use hands-on workshops to
inspire girls to consider
STEM studies and careers.
Secondary
teachers across
the USA
Secondary
teachers in
workshops
conducted by
SSU staff and
EAs
Secondary
students,
teachers and
the public
Secondary
students,
teachers and
the public
Online
Teacher
Training
Each summer
Astro 4 Girls
Pilot in March 2012
then each year
thereafter.
Printed
Materials
Ongoing
Reprint popular printed
materials that are handed
out in workshops with
secondary teachers.
GRB Skymap
Ongoing
Provide background
material and up-to-date
science results about GRBs.
Epo’s
Chronicles
Ongoing
Provide background
material and space science
concepts related to NASA
missions.
Secondary
teachers across
the USA
Middle-school
girls in underserved regions
8
EAs train teachers at
local, regional and
national educator
conferences.
SSU staff train EAs
every other year for
one week.
SSU staff and others
develop online
training programs
for teachers.
SSU staff, EAs and
others develop
workshops for girls
and deliver them in
participating
libraries.
Disseminated
through educator
workshops given by
SSU staff and EAs.
EAs gain pedagogical and
content knowledge as well as
familiarity with NASA
resources. They are then
highly qualified to train other
teachers to use these
resources in their classrooms.
Teachers gain pedagogical
and content knowledge as
well as familiarity with NASA
resources. They then
incorporate NASA materials
in their classes.
Middle-school girls become
engaged with STEM subjects
and inspired by NASA science.
SSU staff updates
website as GRBs
occur.
Highly-evaluated workshops
in which teachers gain
pedagogical and content
knowledge, then increase
their use of NASA materials in
classrooms.
Users gain knowledge of
ongoing NASA mission
science.
SSU staff develops
weekly comic,
distributed online
Readers gain knowledge of
space science concepts and
NASA missions.
Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Budget Narrative For Fermi E/PO Plan FY12-16
1) Salaries and Benefits: About $385K decreasing to $326K by FY16, with 4.0 - 3.2 FTEs of staff
salaries, salary for 1 or 2 undergraduate students and 0.4 FTE of Prof. Cominsky’s salary. Cominsky is
the E/PO lead, and manages the work of all SSU staff, as well as serving as final technical reviewer for all
SSU products. She also represents the SSU efforts to the Astrophysics SEPOF, and is responsible for all
reporting to Fermi project management and to Principal Investigator Michelson, required OEPM and
SEPOF reports, and representing E/PO at Fermi team and User’s group meetings. McLin participates in
the Educator Ambassadors Training activities and is also the primary author of the GRB website entries.
McLin and Cominsky participate in the design and implementation of the online teacher training course,
and in Astro 4 Girls. Hill, John and Prasad are the main writers for the Epo’s Chronicles episodes, while
Simonnet does all the drawing and layout. Prasad is the main web programmer, responsible for web site
updates, and ensuring 508-compliance. John is the primary Flash programmer, supporting websites, new
media development and the online Cosmology curriculum. Simonnet is responsible for reordering and
printing curricular materials, as well as designing new products. McCall is responsible for computer
security on all of our NASA-approved websites and servers. Chase coordinates paperwork, shipping, bill
reconciliation and administration. Undergraduate students help analyze telescope data, and assist with
mailing and other office tasks. Benefits rates have been updated for FY12-16 and are 43% of salaries for
academic year faculty and staff, 4.45% for Cominsky’s summer salary, overload pay and for student
assistants. No cost of living raises are included, as the state of California has not given raises for the past
several years, and we don’t anticipate any in the foreseeable future.
2) Pepperwood Lease: $1500 per year for facility rental for the robotic telescope
3) Travel: Educator Ambassador travel stipends are $2K per year. In FY12 Fermi is funding 8 EAs. For
FY13-16, and the summer 2012 training, there will be 10. Travel to the bi-yearly training (in even years)
is about $3K per EA. We include $1K per year for each trip by an EA to a library to support the Astro 4
Girls program (increasing from 2 to 8 trips by FY16). Also budgeted each year are: one trip for an SSU
staff member to attend the SEPOF retreat ($2K), travel in FY12-15 for an SSU staff member to attend a
team meeting or scientific conference ($2K), travel for an SSU staff member to do a workshop at
California Science Teachers’ Association meeting ($1K) and to attend a team meeting at Stanford ($500).
3) Contractual Services: For FY13-16, each of the 10 EAs receives $3K per year for doing four preapproved and fully evaluated workshops at national or state educator’s conferences.
4) Professional Services: The WestEd contract is about 5% of the total, decreasing from $40K to $30K.
5) Materials and Supplies: From $3.5-6K per year. Supply costs are below historical averages, and
include office supplies, printer cartridges, paper, CDs, and related items. In FY10, we spent $5755.
6) Postage & Courier services: $3-4K per year. This includes shipping to EAs and to conferences
including the exhibit booth. In FY10, we spent $1400 on shipping to the EAs and to others requesting
Fermi materials and $1107 shipping to conferences, however we did not ship the booth anywhere.
7) Printing and Copying: About $6-10K per year. Fermi printing and copying charges include reprints
of the all the guides, informal and outreach materials. In 2010, 2500 Active Galaxy guide/poster sets cost
$7765, and in 2011, 3000 Fermi skymap posters cost $3400.
8) Repairs and Maintenance: $1K each year. This is a conservative estimate of the maintenance charges
for group computer accessories (external disk drives, monitors, etc.) as well as repairs for the robotic
telescope. In FY11, we had to replace the power supply for the telescope, and needed new parts for the
dome motors at a cost of $1080.
9) Telephone: $4.2K per year for the high-speed Internet to the remote Robotic Telescope site.
10) Indirect Costs (IDC) - Budgeted at 40% of Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits. This is the rate for
2000-01, when the current Fermi grant started. The 40% IDC rate assumes the funds for FY13-16 can be
added to the existing grant. If a new grant is started, the IDC rate will jump to 51% which will increase
each year’s budget significantly (and will necessitate revising the attached budget). IDC rates at SSU are
negotiated with the US Department of Health and Human Services.
9
Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Sonoma State University
Principal Investigator:
LYNN COMINSKY
Project Title:
Sponsor:
Fermi E/PO Program FY12-16
NASA
Budget Summary
FY12
Total Cost
Category
FY13
Total Cost
FY14
Total Cost
FY15
Total Cost
FY16
Total Cost
Cumulative
Total Cost
Personnel
Faculty
Lynn Cominsky - AY
Lynn Cominsky - Summer
Lynn Cominsky - Overload
-
32,940
32,940
29,646
29,646
29,646
154,818
10,541
14,839
10,541
14,839
10,541
14,839
10,541
14,839
10,541
14,839
52,704
74,196
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,739
37,440
6,739
37,440
6,739
37,440
6,739
37,440
6,739
35,100
33,696
184,860
McCall (part time )
McLin
6,242
55,968
6,242
55,968
6,242
55,968
6,242
55,968
6,242
55,968
31,212
279,840
Prasad
37,622
37,622
32,920
35,271
32,920
176,355
Hill
Simonnet
19,470
42,326
19,470
42,326
37,036
42,326
37,036
38,940
201,050
Students
Graduate
Undergraduate
-
-
-
-
-
7,200
7,200
3,600
7,200
3,600
28,800
4,480
275,808
8,960
280,288
4,480
239,451
4,480
250,693
4,480
237,111
26,880
1,283,351
14,164
469
660
-
14,164
469
660
-
12,748
469
660
-
12,748
469
660
-
12,748
469
660
-
66,572
2,345
3,302
-
2,898
16,099
2,898
16,099
2,898
16,099
2,898
16,099
2,898
15,093
14,489
79,490
2,684
24,066
16,178
8,372
18,200
2,684
24,066
16,178
8,372
18,200
2,684
24,066
14,155
15,925
2,684
24,066
15,167
18,200
2,684
24,066
14,155
15,925
13,421
120,331
75,833
16,744
86,452
Staff
Chase
John
Bridge
Total Personnel
Fringe Benefits and Risk
Faculty
Lynn Cominsky - AY
Lynn Cominsky - Summer
Lynn Cominsky - Overload
Staff
Chase
John
McCall (part time )
McLin
Prasad
Hill
Simonnet
Undergraduate
Bridge
Total Fringe
320
320
160
320
160
1,282
199
104,311
399
104,510
199
90,065
199
93,511
199
89,059
1,196
481,457
Total SWFB
380,119
384,799
329,516
344,204
326,170
1,764,808
1,500
-
1,500
-
1,500
-
1,500
-
1,500
-
7,500
-
Mileage
Reimbursable Travel
Training & Conference Reg
Travel In State
Travel Out of State
-
-
-
-
-
-
18,000
30,000
1,500
4,000
22,000
1,500
4,000
24,000
30,000
1,500
4,000
26,000
1,500
4,000
28,000
30,000
1,500
2,000
118,000
90,000
7,500
18,000
Services and Incentives
Awards
Contractual Services - EAs
Non-contractual Services - UCSC
Participant Stipends
Professional Services - WestEd
Tuition & Fees
24,000
10,000
40,000
-
30,000
40,000
5,082
4,000
10,000
1,000
4,200
508,081
30,000
30,000
3,478
3,000
6,000
1,000
4,200
468,194
30,000
30,000
5,914
4,000
10,000
1,000
4,200
462,318
30,000
30,000
5,163
3,000
7,000
1,000
4,200
469,533
144,000
10,000
170,000
25,270
18,000
43,000
5,000
21,000
2,442,078
2,442,078
Students
Graduate
Equipment
Pepperwood Lease
Equipment Rental
Equipment > $5000
Non-Cap Equipment < $5000
Travel
Catering
Materials and Supplies
Expenses Other
Supplies
Instructional Materials
Other
Postage & Courier
Printing and Copying
Records Searches
Repairs and Maintenance
Subscriptions
Telephone Usage
Total Direct Costs
Total Excluded Direct Costs
5,633
4,000
10,000
1,000
4,200
533,952
-
-
-
-
Total Direct Costs
533,952
508,081
468,194
462,318
469,533
-
Total Indirect Costs
152,048
153,919
131,806
137,682
130,468
705,923
TOTAL PROJECT COSTS
686,000
662,000
600,000
600,000
600,000
3,148,001
10
Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
Extra material:
References:
AAUW (2011) “Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics”
http://www.aauw.org/learn/research/whysofew.cfm
Costello, Robert & Bliton, Daniel (2009) “Assessment of Visual Storytelling at the Smithsonian,”
Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference 2009.
Loucks-Horsley, Susan, Stiles, Katherine E., Mundry, Susan, Love, Nancy, and Hewson, Peter W. (2010)
“Designing Professional Development of Teachers of Science and Mathematics,” Corwin, California.
ISBN 978-1-4129-7414-1.
Moe, Terry M. and Chubb, John E. “Liberating Learning: Technology, Politics and the Future of
American Education”, John Wiley and Sons, San Francisco, California, ISBN 978-0-470-44214-2
NASA’s Education Design Team Report (2011) http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/536766main_EducationRecommendation-Report_Final.pdf
NASA Education Outcome and Objective Hierarchy (2009)
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/219824main_Outcomes_Objectives_Hierarchy09.pdf
Roth, Wolff-Michael and Roychoudhury, Anita (1993) “The Development of Science Process Skills in
Authentic Contexts,” Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 30, pp. 127-152.
Smith, Denise A., Eisenhamer, Bonnie, Sharma, Mangala, Brandehoff, Susan, Dominiak, Jennifer, Shipps
Stephanie and LaConte, Keliann. (2011) “Collaborating with Public Libraries: Successes, Challenges and
Thoughts for the Future,” to appear in the ASP Conference Series.
Steinkuehler, Constance and Chmiel, Marjee (2006), “Fostering Scientific Habits of Mind in the Context
of Online Play,” ICLS '06 Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Learning sciences, ISBN:08058-6174-2.
Zhang, Meilan, Koehler, Matthew J., Lundeberg, Mary, Eberhardt, Jan, & Parker, Joyce (2010)
“Understanding Science Teachers’ Needs for Professional Development” Paper presented at the annual
meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) April 30 -May 4, 2010.
Summary of Acronyms Used in this Proposal
Acronym
Translation
AAVSO
American Association of Variable Star Observers
ASP
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
EA
Educator Ambassador
E/PO
Education and Public Outreach
EPOESS
Education and Public Outreach for Earth and Space Science
EXIST
Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope
FY
Fiscal Year
GLAST
Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (original name for Fermi)
GRB
Gamma-Ray Burst
11
Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
GTN
Global Telescope Network
IDC
Indirect costs
IYA
International Year of Astronomy (2009)
LAT
Large Area Telescope
LEARNERS
LIGO
Leading Educators to Applications, Research, and NASA-related Educational
Resources in Science
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory
MESA
Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NSF
National Science Foundation
NSN
Night Sky Network
NuSTAR
Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array
OEPM
Office of Education Performance Metrics
PBS
Public Broadcast System
PROMPT
Panchromatic Robotic Optical Monitoring and Polarimetry Telescopes
SEPOF
Science Education and Public Outreach Forum
SETI
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
SLAC
Formerly: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Now just a word.
SOFIA
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
SSU
Sonoma State University
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
UC
University of California
UNLV
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
XMM-Newton
X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission-Newton
Conference presentations and publications supported by the Fermi E/PO program:
“Using the Big Ideas in Cosmology to Teach College Students” L. R. Cominsky, K. M. McLin,
K. Coble, J. M. Bailey, & A. J. Metevier, Bulletin of the American Physical Society,
BAPS.2011.APR.R12.4.
“Investigating Student Understanding of the Universe: Perceptions of Astronomical Sizes and
Distances” C. Camarillo, K. Coble, V. Hayes, M. Nickerson, G.L. Cochran, J. M. Bailey, K. M.
McLin & L. R. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2011AAS...21833305C.
“Investigating Student Understanding of the Universe: Structure” V. Hayes, K. Coble, M.
Nickerson, G. Cochran, C.T. Camarillo, J. M. Bailey, K. M. McLin, & L. R. Cominsky, Bulletin
of the American Astronomical Society, 2011AAS...21833304H.
“Investigating Student Understanding of the Universe: Age and Expansion” K. Coble, G.
Cochran, V. Hayes, M. Nickerson, C. Camarillo, J. M. Bailey, K. M. McLin & L. R. Cominsky,
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2011AAS...21833303C.
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Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
“Investigating Student Understanding of the Universe: Dark Matter” M. Nickerson, K. Coble, G.
Cochran, V. Hayes, C. Camarillo, J. M. Bailey, K. M. McLin, & L. R. Cominsky, Bulletin of the
American Astronomical Society, 2011AAS...21833302N.
“Dark Energy is "Dying” and Other Student Ideas About Cosmology” J. M. Bailey, K. Coble, G.
Cochran, R. Sanchez, D. Larrieu, V. L. Hayes, M. Nickerson, L. R. Cominsky, L. R. & K. M.
McLin, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2011AAS...21833301B.
“The Big Ideas in Cosmology: a Curriculum for College Students” K. Coble, K. M. McLin, A.
Metevier, J. M. Bailey, & L. R. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2011AAS...21821507C .
“Using the Big Ideas in Cosmology to Teach College Students” K. Coble, J. Bailey, G. Cochran,
V. Hayes, D. Larrieu, R. Sanchez, K. McLin and L. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American
Astronomical Society, 2010AAS...21641605C.
“Probing Student Understanding of Cosmology,” Kimberly A. Coble, G. Cochran, D. Larrieu, J.
Bailey, R. Sanchez, L. Cominsky, & K. McLin, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2010AAS...21546614C
“Using Telescopic Observations to Explore the Science of AGN with High School Students” K.
M. McLin & L.R. Cominsky, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting,
2010AGUFMED53A0528M.
“Undergraduate Research Experiences with the Global Telescope Network,” K. McLin, K. Wyman, N.
Broughton, K. Coble, & L.R. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2009AAS...21346102M.
“Epo's Chronicles: A Weekly Webcomic That Teaches Space Science,” L. Cominsky, K. Prasad,
A. Simonnet, K. John, K. McLin & L. Hill, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2009AAS...21346407C
“The Global Telescope Network,” K. McLin, G. Spear & L. Cominsky, in EPO and a Changing
World: Creating Linkages and Expanding Partnerships ASP Conference Series, Vol. 389
proceedings of the conference held 5-7 September 2007, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Edited by
Catharine Garmany, Michael G. Gibbs, and J. Ward Moody. San Francisco: Astronomical
Society of the Pacific, 2080, p.89, 2008ASPC..389...89M
“High School Observations of AGN Using the GTN,” Kevin M. McLin, R. Jordon, A. Perkins, J.
Adkins & L. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2008HEAD...10.2631M
“Teaching In-Service and Pre-Service Teachers Modern Cosmology, Part I: A Concept
Inventory”, Kevin M. McLin, & L. R. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2007AAS...211.3106M
“Beyond the Event Horizon: Education with Black Holes,” S. Silva, P. Plait and L. Cominsky,
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2006AAS...20915314S
“The GLAST Education and Public Outreach Program” P. Plait, T. Graves, S. Silva, A.
Simonnet, G. Spear and L. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2004AAS...205.9606P
“The GLAST Education and Public Outreach Program” P. Plait, T. Graves, S. Silva, A.
Simonnet, G. Spear and L. Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2004AAS...205.9606P
“The GTN-AAVSO Blazar Program” L. R. Cominsky, G. G. Spear, T. Graves, G. Slater and A.
Price, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2004HEAD ....8.2702C
“The SEU Educator Ambassador Program.” S. Silva, L. Cominsky, P. Plait, J. Lochner, and N.
Leon, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2004HEAD....8.2707S
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Fermi Education and Public Outreach FY13-16
“Observing Blazar Variability: The GTN-AAVSO Collaboration,” G. Spear, A. Price, P. Plait, T. Graves, L.
Cominsky, J. Mattei, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2004AAS...204.3513S
“The Utilization of the RCT Telescope for Studies of Blazar Continuum Emission during the GLAST GammaRay Mission,” J. R. Mattox, L. Cominsky, G. Spear, M. Carini, R. Gelderman, C.H. McGruder, E. Guinan, S.
Howell, D. R. Davis, M. Everett, and D. K. Walter, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
2003AAS...202.4305M
“The GTN-AAVSO Blazar Program,” G. Spear, J. Mattei, A. Price, T. Graves, T. Borders, G. Slater, and L.
Cominsky, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2002AAS...201.5309S
“The GLAST Telescope Network,” John Mattox, Gordon Spear and Lynn Cominsky, Bulletin of the American
Astronomical Society, 33, 1222, 2001
“The Teacher Ambassador Program for NASA’s GLAST Mission,” Lynn R. Cominsky & Laura A. Whitlock,
AAPT Announcer, 30, 89, 2000
14